MANILA — Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, one of the original private complainants in the drug-trafficking cases filed in 2016 against then Senator Leila de Lima, issued a statement on Friday, 16 May 2025, following the Court of Appeals’ decision to reverse De Lima’s acquittal by the trial court. Topacio represented the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) during the initial stages of the case.

Below is his full statement:

16 May 2025

STATEMENT OF ATTY. FERDINAND TOPACIO, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PRIVATE COMPLAINANTS IN THE DRUG-TRAFFICKING CASES AGAINST THEN-SENATOR LEILA DE LIMA, ON THE REVERSAL BY THE COURT OF APPEALS OF HER ACQUITTAL BY THE TRIAL COURT. 

"As one of the original private complainants on behalf of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) in the drug-trafficking cases against then Senator Leila de Lima in 2016 and who—together with VACC president Arsenio Evangelista and our late honorary chairman Dante Jimenez—initiated the same before the Department of Justice (DOJ), I happily welcome the reversal by the Court of Appeals of Ms. De Lima's acquittal.

"The trial of Ms. De Lima was indeed heavily suffused with the interference of foreign meddlers from the European Parliament, heavy subjudice propaganda from the De Lima camp, as well as harassment suits against me and witnesses, some of which cases are still ongoing. It is hoped that with the Court of Appeals ordering a trial de novo, the case will be heared minus such undue and improper influence, so that the truth will finally out. 

"Once again, our courts have served as the last bastion of justice and truth in our democratic government. 

"I also hope that the DOJ under its new leadership will have the decency to assign the prosecution of the case once more to its excellent team headed by prosecutor Sonny Ocampo and his group."